Audio information leaflet system

ABSTRACT

A method for the dissemination of audio information in a hostile environment via an airdrop to mainly illiterate populations in a target area by means of a leaflet ( 10, 14 ) containing audio circuitry ( 12 ). In the first step ( 1 ) the hostile target population is identified and the desired content of the audio information is selected. In the next steps, hardened, waterproof audio leaflets ( 10, 14 ) are manufactured ( 2 ) and recorded ( 4 ), ( 5 ) with the desired audio information. Finally, the audio leaflets are then airdropped ( 6 ) to the target population. The audio message is played ( 7 ) when the leaflet is activated by a member of the target population. The method is practiced using an audio leaflet designed to play an audio message. The leaflet ( 10, 14 ) is embodied in a protective structure capable of surviving (i) an impact resulting from and airdrop and (ii) extended exposure to adverse elements of nature for at least three days. A memory circuit ( 12 ) is contained within the leaflet and is capable of storing at least one audio message. The leaflet may include a lightweight speaker, a power source and an activating switch coupled to the memory circuit, as well as an audio playback circuit coupled to the memory circuit to play the at least one audio message from the lightweight speaker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to psychological andinformational operations supporting military campaigns. Moreparticularly, the present invention relates to targeted audioinformation dissemination.

2. Related Art

Psychological and informational operations play a major role in amajority of U.S. military actions, many of them focused on targetcountries where the population is often illiterate and adverse ininterest to the U.S. The dissemination of specially selected informationconcerning U.S. involvement in the conflict and the nature of theopposing party can act to increase the efficiency of the military actionby altering the local support from the general population, thushastening the end to the conflict and ultimately saving lives. One ofthe reasons why psychological and informational operations play a majorrole in these situations is because they can impact the mental state ofthe population in the target country thus demoralizing them and reducingtheir support to the enemy military. Alternatively, informationdisseminated to the population targeting injustices perpetrated by theopposing side can cause the population to rally in support of the U.S.forces, again causing reduced support to the opposing military. Theseoperations have traditionally been implemented through the use of radiobroadcasts and dropping printed leaflets from airplanes, both passivelyand with the use of “leaflet bombs.”

One major issue concerning the dissemination of information in thesepsychological and informational operations pertains to the literacy andthe economic condition of the recipients. In many areas of the worldwhere conflicts arise, a large portion of the population is illiterateand very poor. Radio broadcasts are generally ineffective in theselocations because of the low numbers of radio receivers owned byindividuals in the population. Additionally, those individuals that dopossess radios must have them tuned to the correct frequency to allowreception of the message during the broadcast. And once the message hasbeen broadcast, its informational value is gone, thus further decreasingthe effectiveness of the dissemination of information.

Leaflets printed with the information to be disseminated have manyadvantages over radio. They are cheap to print and can be distributedover large areas to many individuals regardless of their economiccondition, simply by dropping them from an airplane. Additionally, theinformation has the potential to remain for a longer period of time inthe population than a radio broadcast because the recipient has aphysical copy. But there are also significant disadvantages associatedwith this method of dissemination. Though it is easy to get a leafletinto the hands of almost any target population, the individualrecipients must be able to read what is printed on it or have it read tothem. This greatly increases the chance that the leaflet will be torn upand discarded due to the lack of understanding or possiblemisinformation concerning the nature of the printed material. In manyoperations, such as Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, a great number ofindividuals who received the leaflet destroyed it because they wereilliterate. Though the leaflet was received the message content was not.

A more efficient dissemination of information in these situations wouldcombine the best attributes of both of these methods. Namely, an audiomessage that could be cheaply distributed to a target population, andthat did not require a receiver, would greatly increase the efficiencyof these operations.

An area of prior art that disseminates information cheaply without areceiver is that of audio greeting and advertising cards. These cardsplay a prerecorded audio message or segment of music from an embeddedaudio circuit when the card is opened. They are typically given tosingle individuals of a population in response to some special occasion,and are intended to be kept for a period of time and discarded. Thedesign of the cards is such that they will quickly biodegrade in alandfill. These cards are not, however, suitable for the purpose of thisinvention. It is questionable that greeting cards would even beconsidered as prior art, because one of ordinary skill in the art ofdisseminating propaganda would not associate a greeting card assomething related to the issue of air dropping leaflets from the air inan open, adverse environment. Their design would not allow them to dropfrom a great height without a high risk of compromising the audioinformation. Also, any cards that did survive the airdrop intact wouldbe exposed to rain, snow and sun, thus quickly destroying the audiocircuits and degrading the paper material they are printed on, renderingthem useless. It is even questionable that the ordinary artisan wouldmentally connect the field of friendly greeting cards to disseminationof information across enemy lines.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for thedissemination of audio information via an airdrop in a hostileenvironment to individuals of a target population lacking in literacy.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method forthe dissemination of audio information that will, because of itsnovelty, cause further penetration and dissemination of the informationinto the hostile population.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method that willallow the disseminated audio information to remain in the hostilepopulation for longer periods of time, due to the durability and noveltyof the carrier of the audio information.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method that willincrease the retention of the information in a literate individualthrough the use of a combination of text and audio.

The present invention concerns a method for the dissemination of audioinformation in a hostile environment via an airdrop to mainly illiteratepopulations in a target area by means of a leaflet containing audiocircuitry (FIG. 1). In the first step (1) of the method the hostiletarget population is identified and the desired content of the audioinformation is selected. An audio leaflet is manufactured in the secondstep (2). A plurality of leaflets may be manufactured prior to step (1)and stored for subsequent use. The leaflet can be a flat sheet orfolded, and is constructed of a hardened material designed to withstandan impact with the ground following an airdrop. This hardening processwill also function to make the leaflet waterproof, and to protect itfrom whatever elements it will encounter in the target area. Printedmaterial and pictures corresponding to the audio information can also beprinted on the leaflet. A memory chip capable of storing at least oneminute of audio information is then incorporated into an audio playbackcircuit, with an associated power supply, switch and speaker to play theaudio information. The switch will activate the audio circuit when theleaflet is opened, when a button is pressed or when it is picked up, bymeans of a grounding circuit across the recipient's skin.

The desired content of the audio information is then recorded into arecording device in a language that will be understood by the recipient,preferably spoken by an individual that will be recognized as a memberof the target population. The message is intended to be a shortexpression of information. The recording of the audio information cantake place in the field by means of a portable recording device or in amanufacturing setting. In the field setting, the audio information isrecorded to the portable recording device and then transferred to theplurality of leaflets in an automated process. A stack of leaflets wouldbe placed in a receptacle on the portable recording device andsequentially programmed with the audio information. The portablerecorder would also program single leaflets with a more personalizedmessage. In the manufacturing setting the audio information is recordedand then transferred to the memory chip either before the chip isinserted into the leaflet or after the leaflet is fully constructed.

The final steps of the method concern leaflet distribution. A specifictarget population is identified and the leaflets are airdropped intothat area (6). The audio information is subsequently played whenactivated by a recipient from the target population, and the message isreceived irrespective of the individual's literacy. Because of thedurability and novelty of the leaflet, it is likely to be repeatedlyplayed and demonstrated to others in the population, thus causing ageneral retention and further dissemination of the audio information. Inaddition, the combination of text and audio will increase the retentionof the information in an individual.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example,features of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representative description of the steps comprising themethod according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of a folded leaflet according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a frontal view of flat leaflet according to the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view of audio circuitry within the audioleaflet according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of audio circuitry within the recordingdevice according to the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of the exterior of the recording deviceaccording to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated inthe drawings, and specific language will be used herein to describe thesame. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scopeof the invention is thereby intended. Alterations and furthermodifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, andadditional applications of the principles of the inventions asillustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant artand having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered withinthe scope of the invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, this invention is a method for the repeateddissemination of audio information in mass to a specific, often hostileand illiterate, target population by an airdrop of leaflets. In thefirst step (1) the target population is identified and the content ofthe audio information is determined. This may consist of an examinationof various key locations of military strategy, where an alteration ofthe mental state of the target population would increase the chances forthe success of the operation. The content of the message would then bedependent on the nature of the target population and the desired changein mental state.

A plurality of leaflets is manufactured in the next step (2). Theleaflets are embodied in a protective structure to protect them fromwater and other elements of nature. This may be accomplished by anymethod that hardens or plasticizes the leaflet material to provide adurable, waterproof finish. The protective structure will also enablethe leaflet to withstand an impact with the ground in response to theairdrop. Audio circuitry is placed within the leaflet (3) comprising aplayback circuit, a memory chip, an activating switch and a power sourcefor playing the contents of the memory chip.

In the next step (4, 5) the selected audio content is recorded in thelanguage of the target population to a recording device. The efficiencyof the change in mental state would be enhanced by recording the audioinformation from an individual speaking the local dialect and who wouldsound like a member of the target population. Additionally, thepreferred embodiment of audio information is intended to be a shortexpression not exceeding 3 minutes in duration. In a manufacturingsetting (5), the recorded information can be transferred to the memorychip before it is inserted into the leaflet or after complete assemblyof the leaflet. Situations arise, however, when a selection of suitableaudio information content is not available in advance. In these cases,the audio information is recorded in the field (4) by means of aportable recording device, which then transfers this recorded audioinformation to the memory chip in the fully constructed leaflet throughinductive or electromechanical means. Once the audio information isrecorded into the portable recording device, an automated processtransfers the audio information to the plurality of leaflets. This wouldnot, however, preclude the creation of single leaflets with morepersonalized messages. Also, it is contemplated that multiple versionsof the same message recorded in different languages may be contained inthe same leaflet.

The next step of the method (6) consists of distributing the leafletscontaining the recorded audio information by an airdrop to the targetpopulation. The term “airdrop” includes any means by which the leafletsfall through the open air. This would encompass any type of passiverelease from a height, such as from an airplane or helicopter, a bomb orartillery shell containing leaflets, or release from a train, truck orother mobile carrier. The protective structure will allow the leaflet toimpact the ground without damaging it or the enclosed audio circuitry,and will protect it from the elements. In the final step (7) the leafletis received by an individual of the target population. When theindividual opens or otherwise activates the leaflet, the audioinformation is played and the message is received, irrespective of theliteracy of the recipient. The durability of the leaflet will enhancethe length of time that the audio information will be available to thepopulation, because it cannot be easily torn up or destroyed. Theleaflet will also be played to other individuals in the targetpopulation to demonstrate its novelty, thus facilitating furtherdissemination of the audio information irrespective of the content.Also, by printing a text copy of the audio information on the leaflet,individual retention of the information will be increased.

FIG. 2 shows a leaflet that is folded (10) with the audio circuit (12)being activated by the closing of a switch (13) when the card isunfolded. FIG. 3 shows a leaflet that is flat (14). In this case theaudio circuit (12) would be activated by a switch (15) that is clearlymarked on the leaflet in the language of the target population. Theswitch (15) could be activated by pressing or by a grounding circuitacross the recipient individual's skin. Other mechanisms for activatingthe circuit will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

By way of example, the invention could be described as a method forrepeated dissemination of audio information in mass by means of anairdrop to an identifiable target population lacking in literacy,comprising the steps of: (1) identifying the target population andselecting a desired content for the audio information; (2) manufacturinga plurality of leaflets containing a memory chip; (3) recording theaudio information into a recording device in a language understood bythe target population; (4) transferring the recorded audio informationfrom the recording device to the memory chip by any means such asinduction or electromechanical contact; and (5) distributing in mass theleaflets containing the recorded audio information to the targetpopulation by means of the airdrop. The manufacturing step comprisesembodying the leaflets in a protective structure that is resistant towater and other elements of nature, and is capable of withstanding animpact with the ground in response to the airdrop. A playback circuit,the memory chip, activating switch and a power source for playing therecorded audio information is placed within the leaflet. The audioinformation is intended to be a short expression of information. A textcopy of the recorded audio information can be printed on the leaflet.The distributing step comprises: (1) distributing the leafletscontaining the recorded audio information to the target population bymeans of the airdrop; (2) receiving the leaflet by an individual of thetarget population; and (3) playing of the recorded audio information dueto an action by the individual of the target population. An airdropincludes any intentional means whereby the leaflets fall through openair. The action applied by the individual of the target population couldbe by unfolding the leaflet, by pressing a button or a grounding contactacross the individual's skin.

As another example, the invention could be described as the method abovewherein the audio information is recorded to the leaflet in a fieldsetting with a portable recorder. The audio information is firstrecorded into the portable recorder. The recorded audio information isthen transferred to the leaflet by the portable recorder. The recordedaudio information can be transferred automatically to the plurality ofleaflets in succession, or to a single leaflet.

As yet another example, the invention could be described as the methodabove wherein the audio information is recorded to the plurality ofleaflets in a manufacturing setting by an automated means.

As still another example, the invention could be described as a foldedor flat audio leaflet designed to play an audio message comprising aleaflet embodied in a protective structure capable of surviving animpact resulting from and airdrop and extended exposure to adverseelements of nature for at least three days. The protective structure iscomprised of a hardened material that is resistant to water and otherelements of nature, and is capable of withstanding an impact with theground in response to the airdrop. A text copy of the audio message canbe printed on the leaflet. The audio leaflet further comprises a memorycircuit contained within the leaflet capable of storing at least oneaudio message, a lightweight speaker, a power source and an activatingswitch coupled to the memory circuit, and an audio playback circuitcoupled to the memory circuit to play the audio message from thelightweight speaker. The audio leaflet is configured such that the audiomessage can be recorded into the memory circuit by means of induction,electromechanical contact, or any other means familiar to one skilled inthe art. The audio message can be recorded into the memory chip in amanufacturing setting or in a field setting by means of an automatedportable recording device. The activating switch can be a switch thatactivates when the leaflet is unfolded, when the switch is pressed orwhen the leaflet it touched, by means of a grounding contact across therecipient's skin.

FIG. 4 shows an electrical diagram of one example embodiment of theaudio circuitry 20 of an audio leaflet. This embodiment comprises aplayback chip 22, an activating switch 24, a speaker 26, a battery 28,an audio input 30, and a 12V input 32. The playback chip may be anyaudio chip that can receive an audio signal, store the audio signal, andsubsequently play the audio signal via a small speaker. One example ofsuch a chip includes, but is not limited to, the ISD1810 Chipcorder byISD. Other electronic components are associated with the playback chip22 that are not shown in FIG. 4, but that would be appreciated by oneskilled in the art.

It should also be noted that situations may arise where messages mayneed to be sent securely between individuals. In these cases, it iscontemplated that an audio leaflet may be constructed with a pluralityof security switches. When the leaflet is being encoded with the audiomessage, a combination may be encoded into the audio leaflet that isassociated with the plurality of security switches. When the leaflet isreceived by the recipient, the audio message may only be unlocked andplayed by pressing the correct combination of security switches. Thecombination may be set before or after the card is programmed.

FIG. 5 shows an electrical diagram of one example embodiment of therecording device audio circuitry 40. This embodiment may include arecording/playback chip 42. This chip may be of any design that allowsthe recording of an audio message, the storage of that audio message,followed by the programming of that audio message into one or aplurality of audio leaflets. An example of such a chip includes, but isnot limited to, the ISD1416 and the ISD1420 Chipcorder by ISD. Thisembodiment also includes a storage array 44 into which the audio messageis stored after being received by the chip from a microphone 48 or otherdevice attached via an auxiliary jack 50. Upon activation of a recordswitch 46, the audio message is transferred to one or a plurality ofaudio leaflets by means of an address buffer array 52. The recordingdevice audio circuitry 40 may be powered by an external 12V AC or DCsource 54. Other electronic components are associated with therecording/playback chip 42 that are not shown in FIG. 5, but that wouldbe appreciated by one skilled in the art.

FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic view of an example embodiment of a portablerecording device 60. The device may include a housing 62. This housing62 may be rugged and waterproof to withstand extreme field conditions.The recording device may include a microphone 64 coupled to the housing,and it may also include an auxiliary input 66 for coupling to anexternal microphone or other audio input. Additionally, the unit may beoperated with AC power 74, or from DC power 76. The AC power 74 inputmay include a universal adapter for operation in countries with diversepower requirements. One example of a DC power source may include avehicle DC power adapter.

The recording device 60 may also include a record message button 68.This button would be depressed while recording an audio message toactivate the recording mode of the recording/playback chip 42. Thisaction would cause the audio message to be stored in the storage array44. Upon releasing the record message button 68, recording would cease.Audio leaflets may be inserted into one or a plurality of connectorslots 72. Upon activation of a leaflet program button 70, the audiomessage is transferred to the audio leaflets. This transfer may occur byinduction, electromechanical contact or any other means known to oneskilled in the art. The audio message may remain in the storage array 44until the record message button 68 is activated, allowing multiplebatches of audio leaflets to be programmed with the same audio message.

It is to be understood that the above-referenced arrangements are onlyillustrative of the application for the principles of the presentinvention. Numerous modifications and alternative arrangements can bedevised without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. While the present invention has been shown in the drawingsand fully described above with particularity and detail in connectionwith what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferredembodiment(s) of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limitedto, variation in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner ofoperation, assembly and use can be made without departing from theprinciples and concepts of the invention as set forth herein.

1. A method for repeated dissemination of audio information in mass bymeans of an airdrop to an identifiable target population lacking inliteracy, comprising the following steps: a) identifying the targetpopulation and selecting a desired content for the audio information; b)manufacturing a plurality of leaflets containing a memory chip; c)recording the audio information into a recording device in a languageunderstood by the target population; d) transferring the recorded audioinformation from the recording device to the memory chip; and d)distributing in mass the leaflets containing the recorded audioinformation to the target population by means of the airdrop.
 2. Themethod as in claim 1 wherein the manufacture of the leaflets comprisesthe following steps: a) manufacturing the leaflets such that theleaflets are embodied in a protective structure that is resistant towater and other elements of nature, and is capable of withstanding animpact with the ground in response to the airdrop; and b) placing withinthe leaflet a playback circuit, the memory chip, activating switch and apower source for playing the recorded audio information.
 3. The methodas in claim 1 wherein a text copy of the recorded audio information isprinted on the leaflet.
 4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the recordedaudio information does not exceed 3 minutes in length.
 5. The method asin claim 1 wherein: a) the recording device is portable; b) therecording of the audio information occurs in a field setting; and c) thetransfer of the recorded audio information to the memory chip in theleaflet is by means of the portable recording device.
 6. The method asin claim 1 wherein the transfer of the recorded audio information to thememory chip in the leaflet is by a means selected from the groupconsisting of induction and electromechanical contact.
 7. The method asin claim 1 wherein the audio information is transferred to the pluralityof leaflets in succession by an automated means.
 8. The method as inclaim 1 wherein the audio information is transferred to a singleleaflet.
 9. The method as in claim 1 wherein the distributing of theleaflets further comprises the following steps: a) distributing theleaflets containing the recorded audio information to the targetpopulation by means of the airdrop; b) receiving the leaflet by anindividual of the target population; and c) playing of the recordedaudio information due to an action by the individual of the targetpopulation.
 10. The method as in claim 9 wherein the means of theairdrop includes any intentional means whereby the leaflets fall throughopen air.
 11. The method as in claim 9 wherein the action applied by theindividual of the target population is an unfolding of the leaflet. 12.The method as in claim 9 wherein the action applied by the individual ofthe target population is a pressing of the activating switch.
 13. Themethod as in claim 9 wherein the action applied by the individual of thetarget population is a picking up of the leaflet causing an activationof the playback circuit by means of a grounding contact across theindividual's skin.
 14. The method as in claim 1 wherein: a) therecording of the audio information to the recording device occurs in amanufacturing setting; and b) the recorded audio information istransferred from the recording device to the memory chips of theplurality of leaflets in succession by an automated means.
 15. An audioleaflet designed to play an audio message comprising: a) a leafletembodied in a protective structure capable of surviving (i) an impactresulting from and airdrop and (ii) extended exposure to adverseelements of nature for at least three days; b) a memory circuitcontained within the leaflet capable of storing at least one audiomessage; c) a lightweight speaker, a power source and an activatingswitch coupled to the memory circuit; and d) an audio playback circuitcoupled to the memory circuit to play the at least one audio messagefrom the lightweight speaker.
 16. The audio leaflet as in claim 15,wherein the protective structure is comprised of a hardened materialthat is resistant to water and other elements of nature, and is capableof withstanding an impact with the ground in response to the airdrop.17. The audio leaflet as in claim 15 wherein text corresponding to theaudio message is printed on the leaflet.
 18. The audio leaflet as inclaim 15 wherein the audio message is configured to be recorded into thememory circuit by means of a portable recording device.
 19. The audioleaflet as in claim 15 wherein the memory circuit is configured toreceive the audio information by a means selected from the groupconsisting of induction and electromechanical contact.
 20. The audioleaflet as in claim 15 wherein the memory circuit is configured to berecorded by an automated means in succession.
 21. The audio leaflet asin claim 15 wherein: a) the leaflet is folded; and b) the switch isactivated by opening the leaflet.
 22. The audio leaflet as in claim 15wherein: a) the leaflet is flat; and b) the switch is activated bypressing the switch.
 23. The audio leaflet as in claim 15 wherein: a)the leaflet is flat; and b) the switch is activated by touching anelectrical grounding circuit.
 24. The audio leaflet as in claim 15wherein the switch is a plurality of security switches, wherein theplurality of security switches requires activation in a predeterminedorder to play the audio message.